A.M. KULSHRESTHA Vs. UNION BANK OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Leave granted. This appeal is directed against the judgment and order dtd. 20/9/2019 passed by the Division Bench of the High Court of Allahabad affirming the order of the Learned Single Judge dtd. 26/7/2019, whereby the Writ Petition preferred by the appellant seeking quashing of the charge sheet served on him pursuant to disciplinary proceedings was dismissed.

(2.) The appellant was an employee of the Union Bank of India (hereinafter referred to as "The Respondent Bank"), where he served for approximately 34 years from 1984 to 2018. He was promoted to the post of Deputy General Manager in 2016 and was due to retire on 30/6/2019.

(3.) The Respondent Bank vide order dtd. 21/8/2018, suspended the appellant pending further disciplinary action, alleging that the appellant, in his prior role as the Regional Head, Meerut, had adopted a very casual approach while sanctioning credit proposals in 16 accounts submitted by Mid-corporate Ghaziabad Branch. It was alleged that he sanctioned huge limits to newly incorporated firms without ensuring proper due diligence by the branch or processing officers. On 18/1/2019, after approximately 6 months of the suspension order, a show cause notice was issued to the appellant, asking him to show cause as to why disciplinary action should not be initiated against him. On 27/3/2019, another show cause notice was issued to the appellant incorporating the same omissions and commissions as alleged in the previous show cause notice, but in relation to other parties. The appellant made multiple representations to the Respondent Bank, requesting it to revoke his suspension. However, the same was of no avail.